EDUCATION, TRAINING AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Commitment 2.1.1 – We will continue implementing Right from the Start to improve early childhood development, by:
Working with stakeholders and communities to ensure the territory has free play-based care for 4-year olds.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) continues to work in collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Services (HSS) to improve the healthy development of NWT children in their early years through the implementation of the Right from the Start Early Childhood Development Framework and the recently approved 3-year Action Plan (2017-2020).

The Framework reflects input through comprehensive public engagement. These activities included on-line surveys, regional meetings and focus groups, an Elders’ sharing circle, and a roundtable where we heard from experts, community leaders, and practitioners – many of whom were parents. Their opinions, expertise, and input helped craft the principles and guidelines for work going forward. All children, particularly those in early childhood, need a safe, nurturing, and healthy environment to reach their full potential. The Framework includes commitments and areas for action; to provide innovative, outreach programs and services for families and children, and ensure no one is left behind.

The 2017-2020 Early Childhood Development Action Plan was designed to build on the success of the previous action plans. It contains 19 areas for action, of these:

• ECE is responsible for 5 actions;
• HSS is responsible for 5 actions; and,
• ECE and HSS are jointly responsible for 9 actions.

One of the GNWT’s 18th Assembly Mandate commitments is to provide quality early learning programming for four-year old children in all NWT communities (milestone 1 and 2). The territorial implementation of Junior Kindergarten beginning in the 2017-18 school year accomplished this mandate. Currently there are 26 schools that are offering full-day JK while 15 schools offer half-day JK.

Approximately $155 million is distributed through school contributions to Education Authorities, of which roughly $5.1 million is to assist with the implementation of JK. Over the past four school years, a total of $780,000 has been provided to Education Authorities as one-time funding to purchase play-based learning resources. In addition to school contributions, ECE has previously spent $500,000 and has committed $3.49 million over the next four years to complete renovations required for JK classrooms.

For the 2017-18 school year, a total of 8 renovations for the installation of age and size appropriate washrooms are required to be completed in various schools. In 6 schools, where washrooms are not yet completed, ECE is providing additional funding so that the school can hire an additional Educational Assistant to support JK students during the construction period. As well the Department will reimburse the cost of installing recommended child restraint seating for any Education Authorities deciding to offer JK bussing.

On October 1, 2016, a revised funding support model for licensed early childhood programs came into effect. These changes include a significant increase to funding for infant and special needs spaces to offset the higher staff costs for these groups. For licensed programs that have parent fees, this Early Childhood Program (ECP) funding is provided in addition to the fees charged per child to parents (milestone 2).

New administrative processes for licensed early childhood programs, including a simplified application process have been completed (milestone 1). Effective April 01, 2017, licensing and funding applications were consolidated into a single application form with the possibility of multi-year funding agreements (milestone 2). This was reduced from the previous 4-5 applications.

Related Mandate Commitments:

Commitment 3.6.2 - We will improve the accessibility, affordability and inclusivity of childcare in the NWT to allow all children aged zero to five to experience an enriching, quality early learning environment by:

• Supporting the creation of new childcare spaces and programs in all communities.
• Ensuring the sustainability of existing early childhood development programs.